Dec 14
I love the exercise of finding something beautiful among the seemingly mundane. It’s a great way to keep my photographer’s eye in shape–continually training it to see the forms, colors, and textures that come together to form an artistic composition. You’ll notice I use the word “training” and “exercise.” The quest to better my photography in this way is never-ending. Which is just fine with me. It’s a journey, and as a photographer, I enjoy every step along the way.
Nov 14
As we find ourselves on the cusp of winter’s edge, it’s nice to harken back just a few months and remember the powerful warmth of summer’s magnificent sun. This fiery image, taken while cruising along the southeastern tip of Mexico, was truly a beauty to behold. Feel free to conjure it up anytime the chill of the season upon us takes its toll! Hope you enjoy…
There is nothing more dramatic, more magical, than a winter sky. It’s truly the season of the “big sky” and if you are photographer and you don’t get out and shoot from December to February, you are truly missing one of nature’s most wondrous achievements. The problem for me in the winter is that am generally working til dark, and I usually glance up and out my window right about the time the “big show” begins… only to realize that by the time I grab a camera, fit a lens, jump in the car, and stash my tripod, the magic will have passed. There is more leeway to make this all come together after work in the summer, but unfortunately, the skies just don’t seem to have the same magnificence in July. This image was taken a couple of evenings ago at a park just across the street from where I live. I was prepared to come away with nothing, or next to nothing, but I forced myself to go through the motions and see if I’d get lucky, somehow. While the spot I was shooting from was far from ideal–no sweeping vistas here–once I saw what was happening in the cosmos, I just sat down and shot. I tried about a dozen different angles and hoped for the best. In the end, I think I captured a bit of the majesty I enjoyed in person, which in truth, is always my personal photographic objective. So while the sun may be warmer in June, I’ll always be able to look back and appreciate this gorgeous mid-winter sunset. Hope you enjoy…
Jan 19
To me, here’s what’s really profound about photography: the ability for a mere mortal to capture a moment and freeze it in time. On its face, this might seem rather self-evident, but truly, when you think about it, you are capturing an image in a completely unique manner–once the shutter opens and closes, it will never again to be seen in precisely the same way, by the photographer or anyone else. The frozen drops above are a perfect metaphor for this idea–the leaf and water molecules are frozen in time literally, and figuratively. No human being will ever again see exactly what I saw that morning, but using my camera as a visual vessel, I have trapped the artistic moment forever. Pretty cool, if you ask me. Hope you enjoy…
Autumn seems to be all about color. Once those green tones of summer begin to evolve into shades of orange, red, rust, and yellow, photographers (me included) leap to our feet, run about madly and try to soak up the color like a sponge–often shooting hue, instead of true composition. You can’t help it, and I am as guilty as the rest. But then December kicks in, and those remaining leaves are dull brown, the skies often turn blustery or gray, and we are left wondering where it all went.
Luckily, the onset of winter brings another dazzling subject–those dusky winter skies. I am no meteorologist, but I assume the tilt of the earth’s axis as we enter the winter solstice gives the sun’s rays that searing ability to blaze through the clouds and offer some of the most gorgeous, breathtaking sunsets of the year. No matter what the scientific reason, I am literally gasping for breath every time a scene like the one above explodes on the landscape, making even an ordinary setting like my backyard look like a scene-stealing broadway star. Now, that’s WOW factor! Hope you enjoy…
Feb 20
I have been sharing quite a few of my favorite travel photos lately but today I had the yen to go back out in the field, and the early morning frost was the perfect motivator. We’ve been enjoying an unseasonably warm winter here in Middle Tennessee–so much so, that the forsythia has been in bloom for more than two weeks. Alas, I knew Winter would get the last laugh. After a brief snow flurry yesterday, the freeze set in, resulting a beautiful sugar-like frost on everything around. This poor little springlike bloom, encased in delicate ice drops, seems anything but amused. Hope you enjoy…
While it’s been a mild winter season for many residents here in the U.S., there is indeed a chill is in the air this morning. This little bird has the right idea–creating a natural barrier of warm air and down, against the outdoor elements. My favorite feature of this shot from last winter? The tiny sprinkles of snow that dot the frame, giving a true feel for the cold in the air that morning. Hope you enjoy…
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